Article

Case Study: Cape Cod's Solar Arrays

By Claire Baker, NPS Climate Change Response Program, 2024

What does it take to mitigate climate change? At Cape Cod National Seashore, determined park planners have made three solar arrays come to life. Because of their efforts, the park is saving money, inspiring visitors, and making a difference in the fight against climate change.
Solar panels on a roof at Cape Cod, with a technician standing above them

NPS Photo

Millions of people visit Cape Cod’s beaches every year. They come from far and wide to enjoy time outdoors and explore the coast’s lighthouses and harbors. Wildlife, too, finds refuge in these spaces, which support a vibrant and diverse community of species. But the beaches at Cape Cod are shifting because of climate change.
Three park staff look at a section of parking lot that has crumbled into the ocean
Sea level rise causes erosion, which can break down infrastructure like this part of the parking lot at Herring Cove Beach.

NPS/Karst Hoogeboom

Impacts of climate change, like sea level rise and intense storms, change the shape of the seashore through erosion, and present management problems to park staff. So when the park set about redeveloping three key facilities, sustainability was a top priority.

As people continue to burn fossil fuels, climate change intensifies—and so do the impacts on Cape Cod, like sea level rise. But because people’s greenhouse gas emissions are part of the problem, people can be part of the solution, too. By making park operations more sustainable, parks like Cape Cod can reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and make a difference in the fight against climate change.

After all, the National Park Service (NPS) aims to conserve landscapes “unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations” (NPS Organic Act, 1916). In a world shaped by climate change, that means taking action to respond to the crisis. So, the NPS promotes sustainable, climate-smart management across all parks. Programs like the Green Parks Plan and the Climate Friendly Parks Program are key parts of this mission.

As a Climate Friendly Park, Cape Cod National Seashore has committed to sustainability. Park staff took an inventory of their greenhouse gas emissions and created an action plan to shrink their carbon footprint. Since it was created, that plan has been a jumping off point for park planners to take persistent action on climate change. They’ve particularly embraced renewable energy as a way to do this. Solar arrays around the Seashore power the park without emitting more greenhouse gases.

The red and white lighthouse at Nauset Light Beach, with trees and a house behind it

NPS Photo

Taking action

Since creating their 2011 Climate Friendly Parks Action Plan, the Cape Cod National Seashore planning team has taken every chance to work towards their goals and make solar projects happen. When the Herring Cove and Nauset Beach facilities needed rebuilding, the team didn’t just rebuild them. They also took the opportunity to incorporate 15kW solar arrays into each of the new construction plans. And when they saw a new sustainability funding source become available, they planned a new project to make use of it. That project put 30kW of solar panels on two buildings at the Highlands Center.

Seeing benefits

All three solar projects—at Herring Cove, Nauset Light Beach, and the Highlands Center—are connected to the local electric grid. The energy from the solar panels goes to the grid and supplies local buildings with sustainably sourced electricity. In return, Cape Cod gets credits that reduce its electric bill. Setting up this system with the local energy company was a lengthy process, but it was worth it.

After all, the solar panels produce a lot of energy! In their first year alone, the Highlands Center arrays generated more than 31,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity. With that amount of power, a 100-watt lightbulb could stay burning for more than 35 years (U.S. Department of Energy). But of course, the energy didn’t go to one lucky lightbulb. It went to the local electric grid and supplied power to local buildings, including the Highlands Center itself. That electricity saved the park $5,130 from their electric bill in that one year.

If, instead, the park had used fossil fuels to create that amount of energy, the process would have emitted 22.1 metric tons of greenhouse gases. That’s the same amount that would be emitted by driving a gas-powered car 57,600 miles—enough to drive from San Francisco to New York City almost twenty times (EPA 2023). By using renewable energy sources instead, the park avoided all those emissions.

A ranger and three visitors walk down a trail, surrounded by bushes and grasses

NPS Photo

Looking to the future

The solar arrays allow Cape Cod National Seashore to save money and reduce its carbon footprint. By making these projects come to life, park planners are making a difference and working towards a brighter future for all.

They’re also inspiring visitors to do the same. Herring Cove and Nauset Light beaches are two of Cape Cod’s most popular beaches, with millions of visitors each year. The solar arrays, and the determination and hard work they represent, are on display for all of those people. At the Highlands Center, too, visiting scientists and students can be inspired by the park’s action toward sustainability.

Seeing the park take on sustainability projects can empower others to do it too. Can you imagine the impact it would have if all of those visitors went home feeling determined to take similar action in their communities? After all, everyone can play an important role in our response to climate change. Cape Cod National Seashore’s efforts help the park reach its sustainability goals, and use the park’s platform to inspire others to do their part.

And the park planners aren’t done. In 2022, they proposed a new solar project when a funding opportunity—the National Park Foundation Sustainability Fund—became available. This time, they plan to put solar arrays on the park headquarters and maintenance buildings. Hopefully, the completed project would provide nearly all the energy needed by those two buildings, bringing them close to net-zero energy use.

The future of Cape Cod’s solar arrays is bright. Park planners have taken every opportunity to make their climate-friendly goals a reality. That has required commitment and a determination to do the right thing. Because of that drive, Cape Cod is helping us all make progress towards a sustainable future.

Mention of trade names or commercial products in this article does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use by the U.S. Government.

Thanks to Lauren McKean at Cape Cod National Seashore for providing information for this article.

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Cape Cod National Seashore

Last updated: May 8, 2024